Katherine is a town in Northern Territory, Australia. It is situated on the Katherine River (after which it is named) below the "Top End", 320 kilometres (200 mi) southeast of Darwin. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory. Katherine had an urban population of 6,094 on the 2011 Census night.[1] Katherine is also the closest major town to RAAF Base Tindal located 17 km southeast and provides education, health, local government services and employment opportunities for the families of Defence personnel stationed there. At the 2011 Census, the base had a residential population of 742, with 27.6% of the workforce engaged in employment outside of defence,[2] the majority commuting to work in Katherine.

Beginning as an outpost established with the Australian Overland Telegraph Line on the North-South transport route between Darwin and Adelaide, Katherine has grown with the development of transport and local industries including mining – particularly gold mining; a strategic military function with RAAF Base Tindal; also as a tourism gateway to the attractions of nearby Nitmiluk National Park, particularly Katherine Gorge and its many ancient rock paintings. The region is known to experience heavy flooding during "the wet season".

Explorer John McDouall Stuart passed through the area in 1862 on his successful third journey across the continent from north to south. On 4 July 1862, Stuart crossed the Katherine River (90 km upstream from the present town) and recorded in his diary: "Came upon another large creek, having a running stream to the south of west and coming from the north of east. This I have named 'Katherine', in honour of the second daughter of pastoralist James Chambers Esq." There is some conjecture over Stuart's accuracy. Chambers's wife's name was Katherine but, according to most sources, his daughter's name was Catherine.[3]

Katherine Telegraph Station was established on 22 August 1872 and the completion of the Overland Telegraph Line later in 1872, and the town began with a small permanent population on the west side of the Katherine River. Katherine benefited from the proximity to nearby gold fields including Pine Creek 90 kilometres to the north.

Gold was discovered 50 kilometres to the north in 1889 at Mount Todd.[4]

The North Australia Railway was extended to Katherine with construction beginning in 1923 of the Katherine railway bridge. During construction of the railway, the town's centre was relocated to the eastern side of the river. The bridge was completed in 1926 and the first train crossed on 21 January 1926. On 15 July 1926, the town's present site was gazetted. The original post office and the Overland Telegraph station were set just above Knott's Crossing and next to the Sportsman's Arms Hotel that had quarters for the station master at the Overland Telegraph station and a single room police station.

During World War II, the Australian Army set up two hospitals around Katherine, the 101st Australian General Hospital and 121st Australian General Hospital. The army also set up a Katherine Area Headquarters. On 22 March 1942, Katherine sustained its only air raid during World War II. One man was killed when a Japanese aircraft bombed the town.[5]

The river flooded the town in 1957 and 1974.

On Australia Day in 1998 a major flood devastated the town, and the area was declared a national disaster. The flood resulted from the 300–400 mm of rainwater brought by Cyclone Les that caused the already full Katherine River to peak at 20.4 metres. The floodwaters inundated the town and much of the surrounding region, requiring the evacuation of many residents. The flood covered an area of 1000 square kilometres, affected 1100 homes and cut off many roads in and out of Katherine. Three people drowned.[6]

Mining production has declined since the closure of the mine at Mount Todd (50 kilometres to the north) in 2000.

Construction began on a new rail line in July 2001. On 13 September 2003, the line was finished with a continuous track from Adelaide, South Australia to Darwin. The Ghan passenger train service commenced on 4 February 2004 running several times a week and stopping on both the northbound and southbound journeys.

The April 2006 floods placed parts of the town under water (including about 50 houses), caused millions of dollars of damage, and resulted in the declaration of a state of emergency on 7 April.[7] However, there were no reports of the flooding causing structural damage.[8] Town residents were given warning that the river might flood on 5 April, and the town centre was underwater before noon the next day.[9] The floodwaters reached a peak of nearly 19 metres at the Katherine River bridge. Dozens of homes were inundated with up to 2 m of water, with many residents having time to escape with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Over the weekend of 8–9 April, more than 1,100 people went to the evacuation centres in the town. The state of emergency was lifted on 9 April.

In recent decades, it has developed as a regional centre supporting the cattle, horticulture, agriculture and tourism industries. Located at the junction of major tourism drives, Central Arnhem Road, the Savannah Way and the Explorers Way, Katherine is an important visitor gateway for the Northern Territory.[10]

Katherine is located 320 km south of Darwin, and is situated on the banks of the Katherine River, which is part of the Daly River system. The upper reaches rise into the Arnhem Land escarpment and Kakadu to the north east. The Victoria River (The Northern Territory's largest river system) is situated 189 km south-west of Katherine along the Victoria Highway. Katherine is often referred to as the "Crossroads of the Outback" due to its location between the Darwin region, Kakadu National Park, the Barkley Region and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Flora River Nature Park

The topography of the region is predominantly dry tropical savanna woodlands and consists of plains, buttes, rock outcrops, and sandstone escarpments with spectacular gorges through the nearby Nitmiluk National Park. Impressive mesas and flat topped escarpments emerge SW of Katherine and right throughout the Victoria River District. The township of Katherine is set amongst relatively flat plains along the Katherine River, dotted with rugged karst limestone formations and rock outcrops with isolated buttes and hills.

Katherine experiences a semi-arid tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classificationAw) with distinct wet and dry seasons. The annual rainfall is 980 mm at Katherine and 1100mm at Tindal AWS. Daily temperatures in the wet season typically range from 24 °C to 37 °C, reaching over 40 °C from late September to late November. Very high humidity accompanies high temperatures during the build-up period to the wet season, when the region receives spectacular electrical storms. The wet season monsoon period is a dramatic time of year, from large thunderstorms and heavy downpours to the transitions of lush greenery appearing from the parched deciduous landscapes of the dry season.

In the dry, the nights can get quite cool, regularly dropping to 7 °C overnight around June and July. Humidity levels are much lower from June to August and hence this has become the most popular time for visitors who wish to explore the region. Most parks and roads are accessible during the dry season, whereas the wet season often causes accessibility restrictions.

Low elevation relative to surrounding areas as well as the town's situation on the banks of a river, means that the area is prone to flooding. A flood on Australia Day in 1998 was particularly destructive. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Les produced between 300 and 400 millimetres of rainfall during a 48-hour period, causing the Katherine River to rise to 21.3 metres and claim the lives of three people.[11]

Katherine is quite a large city by its land area, despite the low combined population of around 10,000 people. The Katherine Town Council (municipality) Zone extends from Flora River Junction in the West to Arnhem Land in the East. From the Fergusson River in the North to the Sturt Plateau in the South. Other shire zones in the area are the Victoria Daly and the Roper Gulf Shires.

Springvale Homestead, built in 1879, is the oldest original homestead in the Northern Territory. The homestead was originally managed by Alfred Giles, an ex-Overland Telegraph linesman, but is now open to visitors. The Old Katherine Railway Station is another historic attraction that served Vestey’s Meatworks during their operation in Darwin and was a major hub of transport during World War II.

Another historic site is the O’Keeffe Residence. Originally built as a recreation hut in 1943 for army officers during the Second World War, it is a good example of local construction practice, using local materials like Cypress pine and corrugated iron.

The Old Gallon Licence Store is another historical gem of the Old Katherine Settlement, built by Bernard Murphy in 1891. The store is located near Knotts Crossing, it is surrounded by large Boab Trees and Bauhinia near the banks of the Katherine River. The Gallon Licence store was also featured in the crocodile horror film "Rogue".

Since the establishment of Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine has developed into a tourism destination. Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park attracts large numbers of visitors each year (232,000 in 2004–05).[10]

Along Riverbank Drive on the Katherine River, Katherine Hot Springs provide swimming, shaded picnic tables and barbecue facilities set amongst monsoon forest and tall paperpark trees and ghost gums where you can sit back and relax or enjoy the abundant birds and wildlife.

Boab tree along the Katherine River

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Fishing for Barramundi, Tarpon (Ox-eye Herring) and Sooty Grunter, locally known as "Black Bream", is also popular along the Katherine River. The river hosts a diverse variety of fish species. The low level Nature Reserve the hot springs and Nitmiluk National Park are regularly checked for crocodiles and are regarded reasonably safe for swimming during the dry season months.

Popular fishing spots:

Donkey Camp, the Old King River Crossing, Knott's Crossing and Edith River are great local places to flick a lure or bait from the banks. Another well-known fishing spot 90 minutes SW of town is the Flora River, which also offers excellent barramundi fishing either by casting from the bank or by small boat. The Flora River is inhabited by saltwater crocodiles year-round and swimming is not permitted anytime.

At territory level, the electoral division of Katherine covers the town and its suburbs and elects one member to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Many Northern Territory Government departments have offices in Katherine, most of these are housed in the Government Centre building in First Street, which allows the community to access services such as motor vehicle registration and public health clinics, family and community services and public housing.[13] There is also a courthouse located next door which regularly hears matters before the Northern Territory Magistrates Court within the chambers.

At federal level, the town, as with all parts of the Northern Territory outside Darwin, is located within the Division of Lingiari. Katherine is a solid base for the centre-right Country Liberal Party. Federal Government services including Centrelink are also accessible through offices in Katherine.

The pastoral industry, mining, defence (RAAF Tindal) and tourism contribute to the economy of Katherine. In 2003–04, the estimated total value of agriculture production from the Katherine Region was $75M; $52M from cattle, $16.5M from fruit and vegetables and $7M from hay and other field crops. Production from mining in the region was estimated at $201M in 2003–04, or 13% of NT mining and energy production. Major commodities included lead, zinc, barites, limestone and gravel.[14]

In support of the pastoral and agriculture industries, the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries maintains the Katherine Research Station, employing up to 40 staff in laboratories, greenhouses, coolrooms and animal-handling facilities, with open lands for cropping and grazing activities. The facility comprises 1,260 hectares (3,100 acres) of land on a site located off the Stuart Highway 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of Katherine. The research conducted at the station assists local farmers to align land-management to climate and environment, and to address pests and diseases.[15]

Mangoes, including the Kensington Pride, are a major primary industry in the territory. In summer, the Katherine region is one of Australia's major mango-producing areas. The Northern Territory in general produces early-season (September–November) mangoes, avoiding the potentially damaging wet season.

Katherine airport is approximately 15 km south of the town centre.[18] No commercial flights are available to Katherine; however, charter flights can be arranged. The current airport shares facilities with RAAF Base Tindal, replacing the original Katherine Airfield which operated from 1930 - 1978, which was notable as the base from which Dr Clyde Fenton established the Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service.

The airport and town received an extended description in the book "Beyond the Blue Horizon" by Alexander Frater, written in the 1980s and describing a journey by local air services from London to Brisbane, retracing the route of the pioneer airline operations of the 1930s.[citation needed]

Katherine is at the crossroads of the Savannah Way that runs east-west from Cairns to Broome and the Explorer’s Way that runs north-south from Darwin to Adelaide through Alice Springs. Savannah Way runs along the Victoria Highway at Katherine and Explorers Way runs along Stuart Highway. The town is a three-hour drive from Darwin.

As a major regional centre, the town provides primary, secondary and tertiary education options, as well as facilitating students with special needs and disabilities.

There are four public primary schools located in the town catering to students in from transition to year 7: Katherine South Public School, Clyde Fenton School, Macfarlane Primary School and Casuarina Street School. Each of these schools also has a pre-school attached.

Katherine High School is the only public secondary and middle years school (years 7 – 12) in the town and supports academic, sporting, and scientific learning opportunities for its students. The school has a well resourced library has a wide range of written and electronic media. Katherine High also boasts a large, airconditioned gymnasium allowing year round sporting activities and indoor activities. According to the Department of Education, Employment and Training, there are currently 586 students enrolled at the school. The current principal is Anne White.[19] Due to the vast area and sparse population serviced by the Katherine Region, many students have to travel significant distances from their home to attend school. Callistemon House located nearby, while independent of Katherine High School provides accommodation for up to 40 high school students from remote areas so they may attend classes regularly at the school.[20]

Saint Joseph's Catholic College provides an alternative to the public schools in Katherine, catering for students from pre-school to year 10. The school currently has plans to expand into senior secondary education, offering year 11 studies in 2013 and year 12 studies in 2014. As of 2012, there were 330 students enrolled at the college.[21]

Charles Darwin University maintains a campus in Katherine which is split between two locations. The Rural College is located on the Stuart Highway 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of Katherine on the Stuart Highway and provides residential accommodation for students studying vocational courses or undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships in agriculture and rural production. The town offices are located within the CBD and offer vocational courses in other disciplines including studies of business, computing, childcare and community services.[22]

Kintore Street School provides specialised education for students with special needs from across the Katherine region.

Katherine School of the Air was established in 1966 to provide distance education to students in remote locations and isolated communities. The school originally conducted classes via HF radio broadcasts, however with the advent of technologies such as satellite communications and the internet this system is no longer used. The school caters for approximately 250 students up to year 9 over an area of 800,000 square kilometres (310,000 sq mi). The school also promotes itself as a tourist attraction, boasting the "World's Largest Classroom".[23]

Katherine District Hospital is located in the town and provides emergency medical and surgical facilities as well as maternity, radiography and renal dialysis units and specialist services. GP appointments are available at Kintore Clinic. The Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service offers culturally sensitive treatment for Indigenous patients.

Leisure and entertainment activities in Katherine are often nature-based. Katherine Hot Springs, Mataranka Hot Springs, canoeing in Nitmiluk Gorge on the Katherine River, hunting, bushwalking, caving, camping and fishing on the Victoria, Daly, Roper or Katherine Rivers are all popular leisure activities. Although attempts are made to safely relocate saltwater crocodiles from areas of the river popular to tourists, these crocodiles do inhabit most of these river systems.

Within the town itself is a 3 screen cinema complex which opened in 1998. There are two Hotels with public bars in the main street, one of which boasts a night club and a number of clubs around the town including The Katherine Club (RSL sub-branch), located in the CBD, Katherine Country Club in Katherine South and Katherine Sports and Recreation Club located on Gorge Road.

A large facility owned by the YMCA, the Henry Scott Recreation Centre is located at the Katherine Sports Ground Complex and contains a roller skating rink and gymnasium and hosts regular recreational activities aimed at youth in the town such as dance classes. The venue also offers after school childcare and creche facilities. In addition, the YMCA hosts other activities such as Aqua Aerobics classes at the Katherine Aquatic Centre located adjacent to the Recreation Centre.[24]

The Katherine Region was popularised by the novel We of the Never Never by Jeannie Gunn, the wife of a pioneering pastoralist in the late 1800s. The feature film Jedda was partially filmed at Katherine Gorge; however, the last roll of negatives was destroyed in a plane crash on its way for developing in England and the scenes were re-shot at Kanangra Falls in the Blue Mountains. The Australian horror film Rogue, released in 2007, was partly filmed in Katherine Gorge. Katherine is also briefly mentioned in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee.

The Katherine Country Music Muster Association was formed after the Katherine 1998 floods to raise money for the Katherine Historical Society Inc. Over the years, the Muster has hosted emerging local and national country music artists, such as Kasey Chambers.[25] Unique Indigenous music and dances is also an important part of this the region.

The Katherine Sports Ground Complex is the main sporting facility, run by Katherine Town Council, houses the Katherine Aquatic Centre including an olympic swimming pool, tennis club, four ovals one with a pitch used for cricket and Australian rules football, a BMX track, a basketball court and rugby and soccer fields. The complex also hosts equestrian sports and the Katherine and District Show Society. The town is also home to a 9 hole golf course, a fully equipped baseball diamond and a soft ball field.

Further sporting amenities are provided at the Katherine Showgrounds, containing a Rodeo arena, a polocrosse playing field, an oval with grandstand facilities often used for football matches as well as the Jim Jackson Race Course, home of the Katherine Turf Club and the annual Katherine Cup race meeting that draws competitors and punters from across the Northern Territory.